This is Nick. This is Jack. The least fun part about traveling is getting off a plane. Hearing “we’re still waiting for the go-ahead to approach the gate” when you have a 25-minute layover is a specific kind of torture. But good news: The 2nd least fun part about traveling—boarding the plane—is about to change later this month.

If you want to hear about the new “WILMA” method for boarding (window, middle, aisle) and how much time it’ll save, we’ve got more on today’s pod.

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1) Spotify Gives the Stones Prime Real Estate ⚽

Spotify is replacing its logo on FC Barcelona’s jerseys with The Rolling Stones’ iconic tongue and lips. So rock and roll.

A little context: Last year, Spotify paid $310M for a 4-season deal to sponsor FC Barcelona (aka Barca)—the music streamer got stadium naming rights and its green logo on Barca jerseys. At the time, Spotify said it wanted to use the tie-in to “amplify the work of artists.”

Which brings us to this week. 👅 Spotify is replacing its logo with the Rolling Stones’ “Hot Lips” logo on Barca jerseys for both the world’s fittest billboards on the field and their biggest fans off the field.

It’s not the 1st time Spotify’s put musicians on a soccer jersey.

• 🦉 After Drake hit a record 50B Spotify streams in 2022, Spotify smacked his owl logo on the Barcelona jersey.

• 🦋 They did the same thing for Rosalía to celebrate her Motomami album last year.

• 🎸 Now that The Stones are releasing their first album in 18 years today, they’re getting the jersey spot.

Worth noting: Barca’s playing the world-famous El Clásico match against Real Madrid next weekend. Talk about prime real estate.

The Takeaway →

“Advertising is what you pay for, publicity is what you pray for.” Those were the wise words of the first female advertising exec in the US, Helen Woodward, in 1938 (yes, we’ve been waiting for the right story to use this Takeaway for a while).

• 💰 The naming rights to the stadium: the advertising Spotify paid for.

• 🙏 The hype Spotify generated by replacing its logo with the Hot Lips: the publicity it prayed for.

Putting the Rolling Stones on jerseys (okay, fine—kits) made Spotify go viral. The Spotify jersey logo reached Barcelona fans, but the Stones idea reached everyone else (even Real Madrid).

2) Americans Officially Have More Stocks Than Ever Before

Americans got 37% richer during the pandemic, according to a Fed survey looking at the financial health of American households. Was there also a 37% spike in Google searches for “country clubs near me?”

$$$ was flowin’ in the early pandemic days: Paycheck Protection Program loans (which helped businesses keep their employees employed), enhanced unemployment compensation, those nifty $3k stimulus checks, and student loan forgiveness (TBT 😢)? Lawmakers did their best to make sure we didn’t end up like Joe “I will never financially recover from this” Exotic during the Covid era.

And it was a success.

• Americans’ median net worth jumped 37% from 2019 to 2022 (and that’s inflation adjusted—so this is a true 37%).

• Average household net worth came in at $193K (+27% since 2019). Unrelated: Comparison is the thief of joy.

But guac is always extra. All that free-flowing money came at a cost (rising national debt and inflation). Government relief, including the stimmy checks we spent on luxe moisturizer and Crocs, cost the government $5T and a whole bunch of inflation. But add it all up and the pandemic could’ve been the worst economic event in 100 years, yet Americans ended up 37% wealthier. And one key reason why…?

The Takeaway →

More Americans own stocks than ever before (read: #ATH). The Fed found that about 58% of US households owned stock, either directly or indirectly via mutual funds. The reason Americans financially weathered Covid better than our friends in other countries? Our asset growth—specifically for homes and stock accounts—outpaced inflation. Baseball, apple pie, and appreciating investment portfolios. 🇺🇸

Here’s what else you need to know today:

🫂 Israel said it will not block aid coming from Egypt into Gaza—the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 3,400 (including 1,200 children). Last night, President Biden addressed the nation to appeal for more American funding for Israel and Ukraine.

🏆 The Las Vegas Aces won their 2nd straight WNBA Finals on Wednesday. Vegas also won the Stanley Cup this year and now has the Sphere (living its best life).

😮 NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell just got a contract extension through 2027 for $200M…bringing his total earnings with the league to about $700M since becoming commissioner in 2006.

🫰 Jeep’s $100K SUV is another drop in the bucket. High vehicle prices are costing the brand Jeep lovers.

🫳 Amazon is starting to test drone delivery for prescriptions in Texas. Your goods drop in (literally) within an hour of ordering.

🦞 Carbone (reservation level: expert) is opening a new members-only club in Manhattan. Chefs will cook anything you want—right after you fork out up to $30K in application and annual membership fees.

✨ The EU just officially banned loose plastic glitter to cut down on environmental pollution. Biodegradable glitter is okay, but the discoteca may never feel the same.

And one more thing. What is the best seat on a plane? Hit reply and tell us what you think.

—Nick & Jack